Then-third-grader Logan Gibson receives help from a classmate while learning the cursive alphabet at White Lick Elementary School in Brownsburg, Ind., on April 22, 2011. The reading and writing of cursive has become less common to a growing number of young people as many school districts are spending far less time teaching it. Lawmakers in Washington state are considering a bill that would make the instruction of cursive writing mandatory in all schools. Peter StevensonNew York Times File Photo

Then-third-grader Logan Gibson receives help from a classmate while learning the cursive alphabet at White Lick Elementary School in Brownsburg, Ind., on April 22, 2011. The reading and writing of cursive has become less common to a growing number of young people as many school districts are spending far less time teaching it. Lawmakers in Washington state are considering a bill that would make the instruction of cursive writing mandatory in all schools. Peter StevensonNew York Times File Photo

Cursive writing should not be a lost art

When I first learned that cursive writing was no longer being taught in our elementary schools, I thought, “Why did they do that?”

While I understand that we are living in the age of advance technology and that sometimes an electronic signature is acceptable, to me, nothing takes the place of one's hand-written signature. Your signature is like your trademark. It's your brand.

This is never more evident to me than right now. I am in charge of receiving letters from some graduating high school seniors and some who are returning to college, who have applied for a scholarship from the Ethel Goldstein/Missionary Ida Belle Johnson Memorial Scholarship.

Taffy Gould and her family founded the scholarship, and one of the requirements is that the application letters must be hand-signed.

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When I gave back one student's letter for him to sign, I was surprised at the way he signed his name. His last name started with an "S" and he made a mark that looked kind of like a backward "E". The rest of the letters were scrawled across the bottom of the letter. It looked like the work of a 4-year-old child.

This was a a bright young man. So, I called him and asked if he knew how to write in cursive. That's when he explained that he had never been taught cursive; his school didn't teach it. In fact, he couldn't even read cursive writing.

I don't know when the art of handwriting became so insignificant that our school system felt it was no longer needed. I know children learn to use the computer and how to text before they can recite the alphabets. It still amazes me to see tots using their tiny thumbs on smart phones, playing games and pulling up stuff that I didn't even know was out there.

I thought back to the days when I was in elementary school and was developing my own hand writing. I loved it when I had a perfect paper — all t's crossed and i's dotted. Our teacher always rewarded our perfect papers by putting our work on display on the classroom bulletin board. That gesture made us want to learn how to write really well.

Years later that training would pay off for me, when I answered the ad in The Miami Herald that started me on this journey. I had to write a letter applying for the job that was advertised. There was no phone number that I could call, only a post office box to apply to. I didn't have a typewriter so I wrote my letter of application in longhand, or cursive. I was so thankful for the teachers who taught me the art of writing and doing it well. I got the job and the rest is history.

A good handwriting has paid off in other ways, too. As the Bible class secretary at my church, it has been invaluable. So, I still take pride in having a very nice handwriting. I see it as an art. And I owe it all to my elementary school teachers.

Maybe some folk will disagree with me when I say we need to bring back the fine art of cursive writing to our schools. So, I have taken to teaching my great-grandson Jaylen how to write cursive or longhand. To my surprise, he likes it and is doing very well, even making up lists of words and writing them in cursive. And already he has his own style of writing his name — his signature.

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Concordia Lutheran Church will have its Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon, on June 13-17 at the church, 8701 SW 124th St. The theme is. “Farm -Fastics VBS In Barnyard RoundUp.”

Registration is open to grades K-5. According to information from the church, the program will include "fun songs to sing, crazy crafts, yummy snacks, awesome games" and Bible teaching. To register, call the church at 305-235-6123.

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If you are in the mood to hear some good music performed by a group of talented singers, you will want to attend the free voice recital presented by Performers Music Institute at 7 p.m. June 4 at Miami Shores Community Church, 9823 NE Fourth Ave.

The performers are all students at the institute, where Oscar Diaz, Jr. is the artistic director. They are, Katarina A. Bakas), mezzo-soprano; William Cadena, baritone; Vanessa Cardozo, light lyric soprano; Stanislav Zelenko, bass-baritone, and Michael Zlatkin, bass. The singers will be accompanied by pianists Gregory Szeto and Jared Peroune.

If you are 65 or older, you are eligible for the Golden Passport Easy Card, issued by the Miami-Dade Transit Authority.

On June 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., representatives from the transit authority will be at the Historic Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church at 301 NW Ninth St. in Overtown to process applications.

Interested persons must apply in person. If you go, remember to bring your Florida ID showing a current Miami -Dade address. You must also provide your Social Security number.

For more information call Robbie Hall, church secretary at 305-379-4147.

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It's time again for the Indoor Yard Sale at Palm Springs United Methodist Church at 5700 W. 12th Ave. in Hialeah.

The two weekend event will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 3-4; and on June 10-11. Items for sale will include clothing for adults, children and babies, craft supplies, linens, assorted records, videos, toys, small furniture, small electrical appliances, luggage, lamps, pictures, books and holiday items and decorations,